I've been inspired this morning by the Committee for Geelong's annual leadership breakfast - specifically, the keynote speaker, her Excellency Menna Rawlings, British High Commissioner to Australia.

Menna spoke to a room of 350 business and community leaders here in Geelong about her thoughts on leadership, from her own experience. The British Foreign Office has amongst its leadership values Inspiring, Optimistic and Empowering. Menna's own model for leadership spelt out CORFU:

Confidence

Optimism

Resilience

Failure, Feedback and Friends

U = You (being your authentic self).

I found it very powerful to listen to the model in the context of the transition of Geelong and how we could talk more positively and optimistically about our city.

I also found Menna's own story, of feeling like an outsider when she joined the Foreign Office, an inspiring one. She led by example in demonstrating the very attributes she was describing.

A final comment from Menna during questions highlighted a truly key point: to be a great leader you must know your people and care about their lives outside the organisation - allowing them to be authentic and bring their real selves to the workplace.